Introduction: Symposium on Polycentric Systems in a Free Society

To promote human freedom and flourishing more effectively, we must better understand the nature and benefits of polycentric systems—social environments with multiple and overlapping chains of command—such as a market economy replete with private companies and autonomous consumers. The Independent Review’s Fall 2020 symposium examines how polycentricism applies in education, macroeconomic stability, political consent, the provision of defense, and self-governance in the world’s most innovative communities.